Romans 12:1-2, “Our Reasonable Service to God.”

Bible Text: Romans 12:1-2 | Preacher: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: Romans

After 11 chapters of doctrine about the Law, Paul speaks of our relationship to God based on faith and obedience, not ancestry, ritual, or temple worship.

In Romans 12:1 Paul exhorts Christians to consider the mercy God has shown us in Christ. The word for “urge” means to call or come alongside, to give help or aid. The same word in its noun form is used of the Holy Spirit as our Helper, Comforter, Counselor, or Advocate.

Paul, as both an apostle and a brother in the Lord, is encouraging us to commit ourselves to serving God fully and honorably. God wants us to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, to be used in a manner that is holy and pleasing to God (our hands, feet, ears, eyes, mouth).

The unsaved person cannot offer their body to God, because they do not belong to God, nor can they do anything to please Him (Romans 3:10-12; 8:5-8).

But true believers, Christians, are made a new creation in Christ, by Christ’s own sacrifice (2Corinthians 5:17-21). May we never forget, God’s Spirit lives in our human bodies, bodies that seek to indulge in sin, even though they contain God’s Spirit, and have been made righteous in Christ (Romans 7:5-6; 21-25; 8:9-10).

The flesh is a powerful influence at times, and can lead to much trouble in our lives as we seek to be servants of Christ; but we can have victory through Christ the Lord, for He has given us everything we need to serve Him victoriously (2Peter 1:3-4; 1John 5:5).

Paul told the Christians in Corinth that their bodies were to be used to honor God (1Corinthians 6:12-20). We must determine to live in a manner that pleases God, offering our bodies in service to Him; after all, Christ died for us that we might live for Him (Romans 6:12-14), as He lives in and through us (Galatians 2:20).

As imperfect as these mortal, corruptible, human bodies are, the indwelling of Spirit of God’s is able to keep sin from ruling our bodies (see Romans 8:11-14).

Notice (Romans 12:1), we are to offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God. God doesn’t want dead sacrifices!

The sacrifices of dead animals that were required by the Law are no longer effectual; in fact, they are null and void (Hebrews 9:10-15; 27-28; 10:1-10, 15-18), Christ is God’s Lamb, the one and only acceptable sacrifice (Luke 22:20).

The only sacrifice holy and pleasing to God is a living sacrifice; under the New Covenant, through the shed blood of Christ, we are to offer ourselves to God’s service, for this is our “spiritual act of worship.”

Note: the Greek word translated “spiritual” here, is the word from which we get our English word logic, or logical — but a better translation would be “reasonable.” Doesn’t that make sense? Our reasonable worship, our spiritual service to God, is holy [because we have been set apart for God’s glory and honor], offering to God all that we have, beginning with the bodies He gave us and the life He breathed into us (see Genesis 2:7), God formed us out of dirt and breathed life into us.

God understands us, because He made us, and God knows that, in order for us to control what we do with our bodies, we have to change the way we think, i.e., what we believe will direct and control our behavior.

Look at Romans 12:2, God says we are not to be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world. To “be conformed” means to express on the outside something that is different from what is inside, i.e., to masquerade or to put on an act; to act like we have not received God’s merciful forgiveness and salvation.

We are not to act like those who belong to the “world” [the age or philosophical system dominated by Satan (2Corinthians 2:4), “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, Who is the image of God.”

Instead of conforming to the lifestyles of those who do not belong to God and cannot please Him, we must commit to being transformed by the renewing of our minds (feeding upon God’s Word), which will cause our beliefs and ultimately our behaviors to change, to be transformed (Psalm 119:11), “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against You.”

The Holy Spirit uses God’s Word to renew our minds, in order that we might be transformed in the way we think and act (Colossians 3:1-10); we must make decisions daily, sometimes moment by moment, allowing God’s Word to transform and guide us (Colossians 3:16-17, 23-24; Ephesians 4:22-24; 5:15-17).

As we are transformed by renewed minds, knowing and understanding God’s Word, we will be able (Romans 12:2) to test and approve what God’s will is, to judge things spiritually, to discern God’s mind on issues!

God’s Spirit in us will seek to conform our wills to that of God’s will: God’s “good, pleasing and perfect will.”

As we are transformed we will desire to know and to do that which pleases God and brings honor and glory to God, according to His will, as revealed in His Word.

As we are transformed we will seek to put off those attitudes and behaviors that displease God, and instead to do that which pleases God.

The transformation of our minds and the battle we have with our flesh will not end until we see the Lord face to face, and have been made perfect, as He is perfect.

But for now, consider God’s mercy and respond by offering yourself to serve Him, to honor and obey Him.

2Timothy 2:15, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

2Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Colossians 3:16-17, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” 23-24, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

God’s Grace is Sufficient, Pastor Mike